Coroner identifies Columbia man killed in morning fire
The Richland County Coroner’s Office identified a man who died in Monday morning fire.
James Trousdale, 75, died in the fire at 3202 Howell Ave., said Coroner Gary Watts, adding that Trousdale apparently died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Watts said there will be an autopsy on Tuesday.
Trousdale was discovered by the Columbia Fire Department after it was dispatched at 10:15 a.m., said Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, adding Trousdale was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Jenkins said the fire was caused by a space heater being located too closely to combustible materials. According to Jenkins, damages to the two-story residence are estimated at $90,000.
SPACE HEATER TIPS
Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins and Richland County Coroner Gary Watts urge citizens of the City of Columbia and Richland County to choose safe heating sources, but if you choose a space heater please remember to:
- Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
- Turn space heaters off when you leave a room or go to sleep, never leave any space heater unattended.
- Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins said home heating fires are largely the result of human error and the majority of them are preventable. By following some basic fire safety precautions and making small modifications, you can greatly reduce the risk of home heating fires.
- Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
- Install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instruction. Have a qualified professional install the equipment.
- Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO poisoning can cause illness and even death.
- Install and maintain carbon monoxide alarms inside your home to provide early warning of carbon monoxide.
- Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
- Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney specialist.
- Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations, and flammable materials.
- Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire.
- Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces. Otherwise you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.
This story was originally published November 9, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Coroner identifies Columbia man killed in morning fire."